Ex-Lord Mayor Alan Pope has been recognised for his contributions to Oxford’s longstanding partnership with Bonn.

The German Ambassador, Susanne Baumann, presented him with the German-British Friendship Award at a ceremony held at London’s German Embassy.

She emphasised his commitment to strengthening Anglo-German connections, pointing to his remarkable half-century of involvement with the twinning arrangement, during which he led the initiative from 2000 to 2023.

Speaking about the honour, Pope expressed his gratitude for the recognition. He noted the pleasure of building lasting friendships in Germany, particularly in Bonn, and of introducing Oxford groups to town-twinning, with special enjoyment from involving young people.

Pope mentioned that the award came as an unexpected surprise, given that he had withdrawn from much of his German activity due to his wife Diana’s illness. Having recently relocated to Wheatley, he explained that his spare time is now devoted to establishing connections within his new community.

The accolade is bestowed by the German Embassy upon individuals who demonstrate exceptional dedication to promoting German-British relations and reinforcing the ties between the two countries. The Oxford-Bonn partnership marks its 80th anniversary in 2027.